1996 GMC SIERRA tow

Ignition Positions
You can use your Key to turn your ignition switch to five
different positions.
C
1
E
W
LCCESSORY (A): This position lets you use things
like the radio, power windows and the windshield
wipers when the engine is off. Push
in the key and turn
it toward you. Your steering wheel will remain locked,
just
as it was before you inserted the key. LOCK
(B): This
position locks your ignition, steering
wheel
and transmission. It's a theft-deterrent feature.
You will only be able to remove your key when the
ignition is turned to
LOCK.
OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still
turn the steering wheel. It doesn't lock the steering
wheel like
LOCK. Use OFF if you must have your
vehicle in motion while the engine is off (for example, if
your vehicle is being pushed).
RUN
(D): This is the position for driving.
START
(E): This position starts your engine.
I
I A CAUTION:
On manual transmission vehicles, turning the key
to LOCK will lock the steering column and result
in
a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could
cause
a collision. If you need to turn the engine
off' while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only
to
OFF. Don't press the key release button while
the vehicle is moving.
ProCarManuals.com

3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), wait
15 seconds and start over.
When the engine starts, let
go of the key and the
accelerator pedal.
I NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories,
you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part
of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
-
In very cold weather,
0°F (-18°C) or colder,
the engine coolant heater
can help.
You’ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during
engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater
should be
pl~~gged in a minimum of four hours prior to starting
your vehicle.
To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
2-12
ProCarManuals.com

PARK (P): This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best
position
to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move
easily.
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK
(P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave
your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground,
always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
I
CAUTION: (Continued)
-
if’ you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle
will be free to roll -- even if your shift lever
is in PARK
(P) -- if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N). So, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear, two-wheel high
(2H) or four-wheel
high
(4H) or four-wheel low (4L) -- not in
NEUTRAL
(N). See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index. If you’re pulling
a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.
2-14
ProCarManuals.com

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
I rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow.
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see
“Stuck:
In Sand. Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re
already moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
I Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine
is “racing” (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your
foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people
or
objects. Don’t shift out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
2-15
ProCarManuals.com

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0): This position is
for normal driving. If you need more power for passing,
and you’re:
0 Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
accelerator all the way down.
0 Going about 35 mph (56 kdhj or more, push the
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(GO) can be used when
towing a trailer, carrying
a heavy load or driving on
steep hills. You may want to shift the transmission to
THIRD
(3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts
too often.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however
it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (68).
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use
SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but
then you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2), the transmission
will drive in second gear. You may use this feature for reducing torque to
the rear wheels when
you are
trying to start your vehicle
from a stop on slippery
road surfaces.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
selector lever is put
in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is
moving forward, the transmission won’t shift into first
gear
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were
up against a solid
object. You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes
or shift into
PARK
(P) to hold your vehicle in position
on a hill.
2-16
ProCarManuals.com

The front axle portion of the indicator diagram will light
up when
you shift into four-wheel drive.
Some delay between shifting and the indicator's lighting
is normal. If the indicator light does not light up, or if
the front axle light does not go out after you shift out of
four-wheel drive, have your dealer check your system.
An indicator near the lever shows you the transfer
case settings:
2H (2-Wheel High): This setting is for driving in most
street and highway situations. Your front axle is not
engaged
in two-wheel drive.
4H (4-Wheel High): This setting engages your front
axle to help drive your vehicle. Use 4H when
you need
extra traction, such as on wet
or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.
N (Neutral): Shift to this setting only when your vehicle
needs
to be towed or when using a power take-off.
4L (4-Wheel Low): This setting also engages your front
axle
to give you extra power, but should be used only
for off-road driving.
You can shift from 2-WHEEL HIGH (2H) to 4-WHEEL
HIGH
(4H) or from 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H) to
2-WHEEL HIGH (2H) while the vehicle is moving. Your
front axle will engage hster if you take your foot
off of
the accelerator for a few seconds after
you shift. In
extremely cold weather,
it may be necessary to stop or
slow the vehicle
lo shift out of 2-WHEEL HIGH (2H).
2-22
ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat.
You may have
to replace them, and you could also damage
other parts of your vehicle. Always check to be
sure your parking brake is fully released before
you drive.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what
to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
If you have a 3500 HD model, it is recommended that
the propshaft mounted parking brake be burnished as
part of the new vehicle break-in. The parking brake will
work best after it has been burnished following these
instructions.
Make
10 stops, using the parking brake foot pedal, from
20 mph (32 km/h) about 2 1/2 miles (4 km) apart. In
between stops, drive the vehicle at 20 mph (32 km/h).
Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic
Trawrission
Models Only)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move,
even when you’re on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you have four-wheel
drive and your transfer case is in NEUTRAL
(N)?
your vehicle will be free to roll, even if your shift
lever
is in PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer case
is in
a drive gear -- not in NEUTRAL (N). If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer’’
in the Index.
2-26
ProCarManuals.com

I. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot
and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
3.
0 Pull the lever toward you.
4.
5.
0 Move the lever up as fa- as it will go.
If you have four-wheel drive, be sure the transfer
case is
in a drive gear -- not in NEUTRAL (N).
Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with
the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle
is in PARK (P).
2-27
ProCarManuals.com